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What is it?

The Chevrolet Spark minicar was designed with buyers in Asia and Europe in mind. But with fuel-economy targets rising in the United States, the Spark received some upgrades and was shipped over for duty in the United States. The car's style touches, including bold exterior paint colors that spill into the cabin, along with a low base price of $12,995, are designed to help the car woo young drivers. But will American buyers flock to such a small vehicle?

What you get for less than $13,000 is a four-seater powered by a 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine making 84 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque. The standard transmission is a five-speed manual, but a four-speed automatic is available.

Since safety is a key concern for buyers of small cars, Chevrolet loaded the Spark with 10 standard airbags. Sixty percent of the Spark's body is made from high-strength steel for extra rigidity, while helping to keep the weight down to about 2,500 pounds.

A base Spark is pretty basic, but air conditioning and power windows are standard. If power door locks and a full suite of electronic gadgets are more your speed, you'll want to consider the 1LT and 2LT models. The higher trim levels include Chevy's MyLink infotainment system and its seven-inch color touch screen. MyLink connects with smartphones for Internet and navigation services.

Though a base Chevrolet Spark starts at less than $13,000, moving up to a loaded 2LT bumps the MSRP to about $16,720--a price that begins to tread on the turf of the larger Chevrolet Sonic.

What is it like to drive?

Despite the obvious fact that the Chevy Spark is small, we liked the comfortable interior layout. U.S.-market cars get a one-inch-higher seating position, but the tall-box styling leaves plenty of headroom. We never felt as though we were sitting on the ground or that we were cramped. Another major change for U.S. buyers is in back: In Europe and Asia, the Spark is sold as a five-passenger car. But the product team reconfigured the back seat to hold only two passengers in the United States, owning to the generally larger size of U.S. people.

The 1.2-liter engine's 84 hp proved capable enough' the transmission is programmed to give the car a powerful feel when pulling away from a stop. But you won't be beating any lap-time records with the 2013 Chevrolet Spark. At freeway speeds, the engine is turning at more than 3,000 rpm, so be prepared to turn up the radio a bit or live with some engine noise. At the same time, the design of the outside mirrors dramatically cuts wind noise and helps the Spark slip through the air. And, with 32 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, you'll keep slipping right on past gas stations, too.

In a bid to attract young buyers, the Spark's interior has body-colored accents. Seating upholstery fabrics include color and patterns and are made of a durable, canvaslike textile that should be easy to wipe clean for those moments when your spirited drive style takes your latte or energy drink by surprise.

On a closed course at General Motors' proving grounds in Michigan, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark felt solid and held the road well, even when pushed into turns at speeds higher than the posted limit. The ride and road holding get help from standard 15-inch aluminum wheels with beefy tires, and the Spark didn't seem as flustered at 70 mph as the Fiat 500 or the Scion iQ. We should note that during our test drive the weather was perfect, without even the slightest breeze to really judge how the car would respond in the real world. We also didn't have to share the road with tractor-trailer trucks whipping past at a solid clip, so we don't know whether this would affect how safe we felt in the Spark.

Do I want one?

If you live in a city where finding parking is a big challenge, the Spark can be your secret weapon. But think extra hard before taking off on a cross-country trip in one of these cars. The Fiat 500 and the Scion iQ are direct competitors in this ultracompact class. Fiat's offerings generally are pricier than the 2013 Chevrolet Spark, while the Scion iQ feels notably smaller and is particularly unpleasant in freeway driving.